Community Colleges as a Safety Net and Helping Tool: Perspectives of International Reverse Transfer Students

• In Event: 45.094 - Sheraton Roundtable Session Seven - Grand Centre
  In Roundtable Session: 45.094-2 - Student Success in Study Abroad and Global Higher Education

Abstract

This qualitative study examined lived experiences of international reverse transfers. Participants of this study are international undergraduate students who attended four-year college/universities and then reverse transferred to community colleges. Ten international reverse transfers were recruited from one four-year university and two community colleges. Through in-depth individual interviews, the authors revealed participants' reasons of reverse transfer and learning experiences in community colleges. Through the lens of social capital theory, the authors argue that international reverse transfers presented a unique student population who might possess high economic capital but low in social capital for surviving and succeeding in U.S. higher education system. Accordingly, practical implications and recommendations can be generated to higher education administrators, faculty, and staff.

Authors

• Yu Chen, Louisiana State University

• Ran Li, Iowa State University

• Linda Serra Hagedorn, Iowa State University